In Hainsight: Beware of a Silent Man and Still Water

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Since drafting the great eight back in 2004, the Capitals have been able to enjoy 18 seasons of goal scoring antics. They’ve surrounded their sniper by talented centers such as Nicklas Backstrom and Evgeny Kuznetsov, they’ve added complementary scoring over the years like T.J. Oshie, capable blueliners such as Mike Green at one stage and John Carlson now and some muscle to keep everyone honest in Tom Wilson. They were rewarded for their trouble with a Stanley Cup in 2018, but their core is now aging and after failing to make the playoffs last season, they’re hoping for redemption this year.

During the offseason, they signed former Canadiens’ sniper Max Pacioretty, but right now he’s still on injured reserve dealing with his second Achilles surgery in a year. The Caps also dealt with the Canadiens to try and add a steadying presence on their blue line in Joel Edmundston, but unfortunately for them, he’s now on long-term injured reserved after getting a hand operation in the offseason. Off-season signing Matthew Philips is however healthy, but the 25-year-old has limited NHL experience (3 games before this season) and dominating the AHL (76 points in 66 games with the Calgary Wranglers) doesn’t necessarily mean you’re ready for prime time. Still, he’s riding shotgun on the Capitals’ first line with Dylan Strome and Alexander Ovechkin.

In three games, Ovechkin has been eerily silent, recording a single assist and failing to even take a shot on goal in the last two games, which had never happened so far in his career. Are the years finally catching up to the elite goal scorer of is this just a slow start? Personally, I’m not ready to speak about his scoring prowess in the past time and I’m convinced it’s only a matter of time before he starts both shooting and scoring again and it could happen as soon as tonight. Ovi has faced the Canadiens 55 times in his career and so far, he’s gathered 64 points against them, 37 goals and 27 assists, 12 of the goals were power play markers from his office and the Canadiens would do well to tread carefully. So far this season, they’ve taken an insane number of penalties and indiscipline could be just what the doctor ordered to wake up Ovechkin.

Speaking to the press yesterday, head coach Martin St-Louis said that he didn’t know what his lines would be for tonight’s game. Kaiden Guhle is still day-to-day and while Christian Dvorak skated in a regular jersey, he’s still rehabbing from his operation and won’t be coming back in the line-up just yet. Journalists tried to get an indication as to which goaltender would be manning the net today, but they had no luck. With three games in four nights, it might be time to give a game to Cayden Primeau, especially since both Allen and Montembeault have had rocky starts to the season.

Who should get the net tonight? Hard to say… Allen has played against the Capitals seven times and has a 3-4-0 record with a 3.91 GAA and a .877 SP, Montembeault has faced them four times (including three starts) and has a 1-2-0 record, a 3.72 GAA and a .875 SP. As for Cayden Primeau, he’s started one game against Washington during his career and was credited with a loss in which he built up a 9.49 GAA and a .714 SP. It seems like St-Louis will have to go with his gut feeling rather than numbers to choose his starter tonight. Personally, I wouldn’t throw Primeau to the lions tonight, I’d give him Monday’s game against the Sabres and go with Allen tonight, but St-Louis might want to give his young netminder a big test, who knows…

Following Kirby Dach’s injury, the team has yet to call up anyone from the Rocket, but there are a couple of candidates who would make sense if the coach wanted more firepower. Last night, Joshua Roy scored a hat-trick and added a couple of assists in an 8-4 win over the Rochester Americans. Roy is now leading the league with 9 points in 4 games and is having quite the start to his professional career. Meanwhile, Joel Armia didn’t sulk when he was demoted to Laval, he rolled-up his sleeves and got to work. In four games, he’s got 4 goals and an assist to his name. Is now the right time to call-up Roy or should he be left alone to dominate in the AHL for a bit? Has Armia earned a chance at redemption yet? Those are tricky questions to answer, and St-Louis isn’t giving anyone any clue yet.